OTAGO ROWING CLUB'S CARNIVAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12446, 1 September 1902, Page 3

OTAGO ROWING CLUB'S CARNIVAL.

A SUCCESSFUL OPENING. The Agricultural Hall on. Saturday evenin? presented a most animated sceno of life and colour upon the occasion of the opening of the Otago Rowing Club's carnival, and the scenic display was almost Oriental in its bizarre colouring and vivid gaiety. By 7.30 the large gallery was crowded to cxeess, and a great number of people had gathered on the floor space, between 1200 and 1400 being present. The hall itself was elaborately decorated, tho club's coloursdark blue and white—providing the dominant note, and pretty effects were provided by the alcoves in which the various articles to' be retained were disposed. Over the stage was a blue banner with the letters " 0.R.C." in white,/and hanging over the hall were two racing skiffs; while all tho supports, cross pieces, and gallery fronts we re gaily decorated wit)', flags and streamers. The picturesque scene was completed by the smiling faces and varied costumes of tho small anny of dancers in a square railed oft' on the floor of the hall; and the various dances were worthy of more than passing notice, being all skilfully and correotly performed. The proceedings were op.ened by the grand march of " The Magpies,", the magpies being represented by ladies in powder,and patches, costumed in ■white, with black Gainsborough hats, and each carrying a ' The effect was pretty and unique?, and the frequent plaudits from the spectators testified to the general approval. At one stage of the march the members of the club, in boating costume, lined the centre of the floor, forming arc' - ? with rowing sculls, beneath which I' 1" " magpies" passed. About 70 pair.-, f V magpies" took part in the spectacle, but, unlike a congregating of the "piebald" birds, there was no chatter, the only sound being the strains of orchestral music and the soft frou-frou of skirts. Following this was a gavotte by 16 couples attired in eighteenth century costume, and though, perhaps, the requisite amount of Btateliness in bow and curtsey had not been acquired by the beans and dames, and the smiling faces found it some'what difficult to assume that expression, of hauteur one associates with eighteenth century courts, the performers were deserving of high credit for their various parts. Eighty children then occupied the floor in a fairy dance, which came in for quite an ovation from the spectators, the various movements being performed with life and spirit, while the combined effect was dainty aiul fairylike. The instructress in all the dances was Miss Hamann, to whom the club is indebted for a phief feature of the.carnival.

At this stage the President of the club (Mr John White) appeared on the stage and announced that the Mayor (Mr .T. A. Park) had kindly consented to open the carnival, and. his would call upon him to do so. The Mayor then stepped forward and said he was afraid the charming and excellent dancing ho had witnessed had entirely driven from his mind what he had intended to Say, so they would have to excuse any lapses' on his part. He had been asked to intimate that liis Excellency the Governor ■had sent word that he regretted his inability to be'present, but he gladly accorded his patronage. ' They would notice among the ia.rgei number of oitizens present many who had once been athletes themselves, and who assisted still to keep athletics alive. Their doing so proved that those gentlemen recognised the great benefit to be derived from an athletic training.'—(Applause.) They no doubt considered it their duty to devote their interest and enthusiasm, in assisting to promote movements of the present kind as best they could. , We had now in the city many cof these athletic clubs, some flourishing and some struggling, and amongst them ■we had the Otago Rowing Club.—(Applause.) They all knew that the exerciee of rowing was the most invigorating and healthiest of sports. They were told that it Avas health that made their sleep restful at night, and it was health,' virtually, that increased the natural endowments of the mind and made the wit acute and--the memory retentive. To obtain health they must have exercise, and to get exercise they should belong to sojne athletic club. — (Applause.) And what .was the result of all this athletic training going on and increasing in our midst*.from year to year? He said it had a great result. It made young men physically strong—strengthened their mind and will, and built up a sound constitution; all of which gave them the power to become intelligent, true, and useful citizens, and a credit , to the colony and the Empire to which they belonged. He now came to the Otago Rowing Club, which, he thought, could fairly claim to be the father of rowing in the upper harbour. Members had fully upheld; the credit of the colony in boating. Among them there were two champions of New Zealand—Mr M'Grath and Mr Priest.— (Applause.) The club also held the honour of having obtained the most prizes in rowing in. the upper harbour, and he thought it had well earned the reputation it enjoyed. The club' was established in 1873, and sailed along, sometimes in smooth water, but more frequently in very troubled waters, its worst voyage being in 1890, when it was in some financial difficulty. In the following year the Dunedin Amateur Boating Chib gave an impetus to boating, and the Otago Row l ing Club gained new life.—(Applause.) Everything went well and prosperously with the club, until recently the improvements in the upper harbour necessitated another removal of the boatshed) at a cost of something like £300. The sheds had been removed, and this had to some extent crippled the finances of the club, and the members thought it necessary to look round and get come assistance from the public, with the result that those present had placed before them the magnificent carnival, which he had now much pleasure in declaring opein. He hoped the citizens of Dunedin would accord that liberal support to the carnival' the object for which it was got up deserved, and so assist those interested in keeping alive the good old Otago Rowing Club.— (Applause.) Mr White then called for three cheers for the Mayor, which were heartily given. Mr Whit®, in thanking the public for their, attendance, mentioned that the carnival would be open during, the whole of the week, and hoped to see those present back again, and their friends with them.— (Applause.) At the conclusion of the formal opening proceedings abdut 80 children took part in a pretty Bpeotacular dance, each performer being costumed to represent a penny or daffodil. l ~ The business of buying and selling was then aqtively proceeded' with, and the raffle promoters seemed to have but little difficulty in filling up their lists; indeed, he would bo a hard-hearted individual or else a muchmarried man who could resist the fair canvassers. The stalls are eight in number, and all are completely and profusely stocked. The first is the art stall, in. which pictures, lamp shades, plaques, cushions, and various other artistio articles too numerous for mention were, displayed, amongst them being several handsome table and toilet covers of Indian, workmanship, and some specimens of Japanese work, while ourios are also'shown. The -English and Continental stalls contain some dainty and pretty articles specially imported for the club's carnival, and numerous Coronation souvenirs. The pretty arrangement of the flower stall made it one of the most notable amongst the various alcoves. At the produce stall the articles were perhaps more useful than ornamental, but nevertheless very necessary, in household life, and a good sale is assured. _ At No. 2 work stall needlework of many kinds, insertion, mountmellick, woolwork, artificial flowers, and various other articles, all the work of the lady friends of the club, are displayed. The arrangement of the stall—and, indeed, of all the stalls—was highly creditable to the ladies in charge. The jumble stall had something of the appearance of a curiosity Bhop, as anything and everything was exposed for sale, and the confectionery stall exhibited many and varied sweetmeats. The lace stall was one of the features of the bazaar portion of the carnival, and the 10 very fine exhibits of lace work received much commendation during the evening.

Numerous sideshows and a ping-pong room afforded amusement throughout the evening, and they, as well as the stalls, were well patronised. During tho ovening excellent music was provided by Air J. Black's orchestra. Following are the results of the competitions:— Cakes. —Judges: Mrs Driver, Mis Boyd, and Mrs White. Light cake—Miss C. Gray 1, Miss L. Mitchell 2 (seven entries);- fruit cake—Miss R. 11. Rutherford 1 (two entries). Sweets.—Judges: Mrs Woodhouse, Mrs Driver, and Mrs Boyd. Seven kinds—Miss A. I. D. White 1, Miss R. H. Rutherford 2 (three entries); one kind—Miss L. White 1 (two entries). Art Work.—Judges: Mrs Woodhouse, Mrs Joachim, and Miss Sproule. Lace work—Miss A. Stephens and Mrs J. K. Cameron (equal) first (12 entries); art work on silk—Mrs Izard 1, Mts J. Wright 2 (four entries): art work on linen—Mrs Butterworth 1, Miss Patrick 2 (five entries). Tho following were the stallholders: — Refreshments: Mesdames Denniston and Butterworth (in charge), Mesdames Dowling, Fox, C. W. Rattray, and Sutton, Misses K., F., and G. Rattray, Butterworth,. Cogan, Kirkcaldy (2), Hellyer (2), de Lautour, O. Turton, Farquhar, Denniston, Sinclair, Young, and Reynolds. Art Stall: Mesdames LeCren and G. J. Reid (in charge), Misses Cook, Sims, Fl M'Lean, and Fenwick. Flower Stall: Mrs Oldham (in charge), Misses L. Mackerras, Royse, Jackson, Kempthorne, Ramsay, F. Fergus, Ballard, Mirams. Produce Stall: Mrs Leslie Hanis (in charge); Misses Amy Mackerras, M. Reynolds, Woodhouse, D. Bartleman, K. Spence, M. Neill. Sweets Stall :■ Mrs Walker (in charge), Misses Priest, Roberts (2), Mathewson, Dawson, Macdonald, Statham, Mirams, Kingston, Hayes, Miller, Whinam (2). Jumble Stall: Mesdames H. Jackson, Ballard, and H. P. Thompson (in charge), Mrs Armstrong, Misses Jackson, Henderson, Tapper, Gow (2), and Royse. Xo. 1 Work Stall: Mesdames A. ,R. Wilson and A. Wise (in charge), Mrs W. H. Young, Misses Hislop (2), Patrick, Saunders, and M. Fergus; English Stall (attached), Misses M. Howlison, Mitchell, and Burt. No. 2 Work Stall: Mrs D. MacGregor (in charge), Misses Macdonald, Forsyth (2). Burnett (2), Murphy, Smith. Mathewson, Park, Greensliide (2), and Apstein. Side Shows: Aunt Sally, Mr Hay; shooting gallery, ,Mr Sutton ; skittles, Messrs Houston and M'Laren; archery, Messrs Kempson and Provo; Gipsy tent, Mr Hellyer; ping-pong, Messrs Sondes and Beimet; gra-phophone, Mr J. Hislop; galvanic battery, Mr .T*l Priest. . The carnival will' be open from 3 to 5.30 each afternoon, admission being free of charge. Business will be resumed, again c-ach evening, the dancefe being performed in the evening only.